On a bad night for the Irish trio in the finals, Sean O’Bradaigh suffered a third-round stoppage to nemesis Adrian Frometa in his bid for MSG Boxing’s Ring Masters 176-pound Elite title at Madison Square Garden in New York last Thursday.
There were losses, too, for FDNY’s Sean Dillon in the 176-pound novice final, and for O’Bradaigh’s NYAC stablemate Hugh McNulty in the 165-pound novice final.
O’BRADAIGH STOPPED
Last year’s 165-pound champion, O’Bradaigh was bidding to win a second Ring Master title while avenging his points defeat to Frometa, of the Bronxchester club in the SBC Elite light heavyweight final, in Long Island last January. But he got off to a bad start when he was decked by an overhand right in the first round.
The second round was close. But then disaster struck in the third and final stanza when he was caught by another overhand right and floored again.
O’Bradaigh’s NYAC trainer Rich Stephenson had seen enough and decided to end it. “I could have finished the fight but my coach waved it off,” said O’Bradaigh.
“It was a mistake I was making after I threw my jab,” the 22-year-old explained the knockdowns. “He timed it well. He was just better than me you know. It’s bizarre because I was much more prepared for this fight yet he was even more dominant this time than last time.
"I felt them [both knockdowns] and was buzzed, so yeah, it wasn't a good night.”
On what next, O’Bradaigh said: “I don't know. I’m probably gonna have a little bit of a break. I might do the New York boxing tournament again, but I don't know. I’ll have to figure it out.”
In addition to the 2023 Ring Masters middleweight crown, his other honors last year included the New York Boxing Tournament Elite light heavyweight title and the New York Metropolitan trophy. He also placed in the top four at the 2023 National Championships and competed in two Olympic trials in the U.S., and one in Ireland.
Still, he doesn’t plan on getting out of shape anytime soon. “I’m going back in the gym in a week to stay sharp. I don't wanna lose a step,” he added.
In the 176-pound novice final, FDNY ace Sean Dillon came up short on points against Carderon Deleon of Gym X. “I feel like I didn’t throw enough punches but my defense was good,” the Staten Islander conceded.
Also on the short end of a split points decision was Hugh McNulty in the 165 novice decider against Adrian Velez of The Last Round club.
